Abstract: A diode includes an anode of a first conductivity type; a first cathode of the first conductivity type; and a second cathode of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A lightly-doped region of the first conductivity type is under and vertically overlaps the anode and the first and the second cathodes. The portion of the lightly-doped region directly under the second cathode is fully depleted at a state when no bias voltage is applied between the anode and the second cathode.

Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure comprises a p-type region in a substrate; a first n-type well in the p-type region; a first p-type well in the p-type region; and a second p-type well in the first p-type well. A concentration of a p-type impurity in the first p-type well is less than a concentration of a p-type impurity in the second p-type well. Additional embodiments further comprise further n-type and p-type wells in the substrate. A method for forming a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: To limit or prevent current crowding, various HV-MOSFET embodiments include a current diversion region disposed near a drain region of an HV-MOSFET and near an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is disposed near a field plate of the HV-MOSFET, wherein the field plate can also help to reduce or “smooth” electric fields near the drain to help limit current crowding. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is a p-doped, n-doped, or intrinsic region that is at a floating voltage potential. This current diversion region can push current deeper into the substrate of the HV-MOSFET (relative to conventional HV-MOSFETs), thereby reducing current crowding during ESD events. By reducing current crowding, the current diversion region makes the HV-MOSFETs disclosed herein more impervious to ESD events and, therefore, more reliable in real-world applications.

Abstract: An ESD protection apparatus comprises a substrate, a low voltage p-type well and a low voltage n-type well formed on the substrate. The ESD protection device further comprises a first P+ region formed on the low voltage p-type well and a second P+ region formed on the low voltage n-type well. The first P+ region and the second P+ region are separated by a first isolation region. The breakdown voltage of the ESD protection apparatus is tunable by adjusting the length of the first isolation region.

Abstract: An ESD protection apparatus comprises a metal contact formed on the emitter of a transistor. The metal contact has a different conductivity type from the emitter. In addition, the metal contact and the emitter of the transistor form a diode connected in series with the transistor. The diode connected in series with the transistor provides extra headroom for the breakdown voltage of the ESD protection apparatus.

Abstract: Circuit and method for RC power clamp triggered dual SCR ESD protection. In an integrated circuit, a protected pad is coupled to an upper SCR circuit and a lower SCR circuit; and both are coupled to the RC power clamp circuit, which is coupled between the positive voltage supply and the ground voltage supply. A structure for ESD protection is disclosed having a first well of a first conductivity type adjacent to a second well of a second conductivity type, the boundary forming a p-n junction, and a pad contact diffusion region in each well electrically coupled to a pad terminal; additional diffusions are provided proximate to and electrically isolated from the pad contact diffusion regions, the diffusion regions and first and second wells form two SCR devices. These SCR devices are triggered, during an ESD event, by current injected into the respective wells by an RC power clamp circuit.

Abstract: A method of operating a FinFET fuse includes providing the FinFET fuse including a drain, a gate, a source, and a channel between the drain and the source; and applying a program voltage to one of the source and the drain of the FinFET fuse to cause a punch-through in the channel of the FinFET fuse. The method further includes determining a program state of the FinFET fuse.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a pad of an IC, circuitry coupled to the pad for buffering data, an RC power clamp on the IC, and first and second silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) circuits. The RC power clamp is coupled between a positive power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The first SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the positive power supply terminal. The first SCR circuit has a first trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. The second SCR circuit is coupled between the pad and the ground terminal. The second SCR circuit has a second trigger input coupled to the RC power clamp circuit. At least one of the SCR circuits includes a gated diode configured to selectively provide a short or relatively conductive electrical path between the pad and one of the positive power supply terminal and the ground terminal.

Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor device comprising a receiver circuit comprising fin field effect transistors (FinFETs), a transceiver circuit comprising FinFETs, and a transmit bus electrically coupling the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit, wherein the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit each further comprises an electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprising planar transistors electrically coupled to the transmit bus. Other embodiments may further comprise a power clamp electrically coupling a first power bus and a first ground bus, a power clamp electrically coupling a second power bus and a second ground bus, or at least two diodes electrically cross-coupling the first ground bus and the second ground bus. Also, the planar transistors of the transceiver circuit and the receiver circuit may each comprise a planar PMOS transistor and a planar NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A diode includes an anode of a first conductivity type; a first cathode of the first conductivity type; and a second cathode of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. A lightly-doped region of the first conductivity type is under and vertically overlaps the anode and the first and the second cathodes. The portion of the lightly-doped region directly under the second cathode is fully depleted at a state when no bias voltage is applied between the anode and the second cathode.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a high-voltage well (HVW) region of a first conductivity type; a first heavily doped region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the HVW region; and a doped region of the first conductivity type contacting the first heavily doped region and the HVW region. The doped region is under the first heavily doped region and over the HVW region. The doped region has a first impurity concentration higher than a second impurity concentration of the HVW region and lower than a third impurity concentration of the first heavily doped region. The ESD device further includes a second heavily doped region of the second conductivity type over the HVW region; and a third heavily doped region of the first conductivity type over and contacting the HVW region.

Abstract: Provided is a top-channel only finFET device. The devices described herein may provide a native device that is compatible with a finFET process flow. A gate may be formed on the top of a fin providing the channel region of the device. In an embodiment, the gate is provided only on one side of the channel, for example, on the top of the fin. The sidewalls of the fin including channel may abut an isolation structure. In an embodiment, isolation structures are formed between the fins to provide a planar surface for the formation of a gate.

Abstract: Provided is a top-channel only finFET device. The methods and devices described herein may provide a native device that is compatible with a finFET process flow. A gate may be formed on the top of a fin providing the channel region of the device. In an embodiment, the gate is provided only on one side of the channel, for example, on the top of the fin. The sidewalls of the fin including channel may abut an isolation structure. In an embodiment, isolation structures are formed between the fins to provide a planar surface for the formation of a gate.

Abstract: Circuit and method for RC power clamp triggered dual SCR ESD protection. In an integrated circuit, a protected pad is coupled to an upper SCR circuit and a lower SCR circuit; and both are coupled to the RC power clamp circuit, which is coupled between the positive voltage supply and the ground voltage supply. A structure for ESD protection is disclosed having a first well of a first conductivity type adjacent to a second well of a second conductivity type, the boundary forming a p-n junction, and a pad contact diffusion region in each well electrically coupled to a pad terminal; additional diffusions are provided proximate to and electrically isolated from the pad contact diffusion regions, the diffusion regions and first and second wells form two SCR devices. These SCR devices are triggered, during an ESD event, by current injected into the respective wells by an RC power clamp circuit.

Abstract: Circuit and method for RC power clamp triggered dual SCR ESD protection. In an integrated circuit, a protected pad is coupled to an upper SCR circuit and a lower SCR circuit; and both are coupled to the RC power clamp circuit, which is coupled between the positive voltage supply and the ground voltage supply. A structure for ESD protection is disclosed having a first well of a first conductivity type adjacent to a second well of a second conductivity type, the boundary forming a p-n junction, and a pad contact diffusion region in each well electrically coupled to a pad terminal; additional diffusions are provided proximate to and electrically isolated from the pad contact diffusion regions, the diffusion regions and first and second wells form two SCR devices. These SCR devices are triggered, during an ESD event, by current injected into the respective wells by an RC power clamp circuit.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrostatic discharging (ESD) device includes forming a first and a second semiconductor fin over a substrate and adjacent to each other; epitaxially growing a semiconductor material on the first and the second semiconductor fins, wherein a first portion of the semiconductor material grown from the first semiconductor fin joins a second portion of the semiconductor material grown from the second semiconductor fin; and implanting a first end and a second end of the semiconductor material and first end portions of the first and the second semiconductor fins to form a first and a second implant region, respectively. A P-N junction is formed between the first end and the second end of the semiconductor material. The P-N junction is a junction of an ESD diode, or a junction in an NPN or a PNP BJT.

Abstract: An embodiment is a semiconductor device comprising a receiver circuit comprising fin field effect transistors (FinFETs), a transceiver circuit comprising FinFETs, and a transmit bus electrically coupling the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit, wherein the receiver circuit and the transceiver circuit each further comprises an electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprising planar transistors electrically coupled to the transmit bus. Other embodiments may further comprise a power clamp electrically coupling a first power bus and a first ground bus, a power clamp electrically coupling a second power bus and a second ground bus, or at least two diodes electrically cross-coupling the first ground bus and the second ground bus. Also, the planar transistors of the transceiver circuit and the receiver circuit may each comprise a planar PMOS transistor and a planar NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A method of operating a FinFET fuse includes providing the FinFET fuse including a drain, a gate, a source, and a channel between the drain and the source; and applying a program voltage to one of the source and the drain of the FinFET fuse to cause a punch-through in the channel of the FinFET fuse. The method further includes determining a program state of the FinFET fuse.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrostatic discharging (ESD) device includes forming a first and a second semiconductor fin over a substrate and adjacent to each other; epitaxially growing a semiconductor material on the first and the second semiconductor fins, wherein a first portion of the semiconductor material grown from the first semiconductor fin joins a second portion of the semiconductor material grown from the second semiconductor fin; and implanting a first end and a second end of the semiconductor material and first end portions of the first and the second semiconductor fins to form a first and a second implant region, respectively. A P-N junction is formed between the first end and the second end of the semiconductor material. The P-N junction is a junction of an ESD diode, or a junction in an NPN or a PNP BJT.

Abstract: Circuit and method for RC power clamp triggered dual SCR ESD protection. In an integrated circuit, a protected pad is coupled to an upper SCR circuit and a lower SCR circuit; and both are coupled to the RC power clamp circuit, which is coupled between the positive voltage supply and the ground voltage supply. A structure for ESD protection is disclosed having a first well of a first conductivity type adjacent to a second well of a second conductivity type, the boundary forming a p-n junction, and a pad contact diffusion region in each well electrically coupled to a pad terminal; additional diffusions are provided proximate to and electrically isolated from the pad contact diffusion regions, the diffusion regions and first and second wells form two SCR devices. These SCR devices are triggered, during an ESD event, by current injected into the respective wells by an RC power clamp circuit.